Russian ambassador summoned to MFA over the murder of Tajik woman by Russian officer

Urgently

DUSHANBE, November 11, 2015, Asia-Plus – On Tuesday November 10, Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Igor Lyakin-Frolov was summoned to the Tajik MFA over the murder of a Tajik woman by an officer at the Russian military base in Tajikistan.

In a statement released for media on November 10, the Tajik MFA, in particular, notes that “in the meeting, the ambassador was informed that these events are not in conformity with the spirit of traditional friendship and strategic partnership between our two nations.”

Tajik Foreign Ministry said it demanded that Russia objectively assess the incident and take necessary measures to avoid such acts being committed by Russian military personnel.

We will recall that Ivan Shcherbakov, a senior lieutenant with the 201st Russian military base, was detained on November 9 on suspicion of killing Tajik woman Shoira Jabborova. The killing reportedly took place on the grounds of the Russian military base in Dushanbe.

Shcherbakov told investigators that he had no memory of the events of which he stands accused as he was heavily intoxicated at the time.

Eurasianet.org reports the Russian Defense Ministry has dispatched a Central Military District commission to investigate the circumstances that led to the suspected killing.

Associated France Press (AFP) reports that Russian military officials at the base confirmed to it that they were cooperating with police in the investigation.